Club swing momentum indicator



Oct. 8, 1963 F. J. KIRKMAN CLUB SWING MOMENTUM INDICATOR 2 Sheets'Sheet1 Filed Jan. 23, 1961 frea'z'c'zf (1233222 22 M W Oct. 8, 1963 F. J. K IRKMAN 3,106,403

CLUB SWING MOMENTUM INDICATOR Filed Jan. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

flee/155% (119714222012 gAM M+ mm wag/E 3,106,403 CLUB SWING MOMENTUMINDICATOR Fredrick J. Kirkman, Freeport, Ill., assignor to Servel, Inc.,Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser.No. 84,130 10 Claims. (Cl. 273-486) This invention relates to a momentumindicator, attachable to golf clubs which indicator operates upon thevisual and auditory senses of a golfer or an observer to indicate apoint in the golfers swing where a predetermined momentum is createdwhich activates the indicator. More particularly, the invention relatesto an indicator which is removably attached to the shaft of a golf clubfor the purpose of sensing when the momentum created by the golfersswing, which in a large measure is due to the uncocking of his wrists,has reached a magnitude which is suihciently great to overcome themechanical retaining force of the mechanical system of the indicator andthereby activate said mechanical system which in turn activates anelectrical system which indicates to the golfer or observer that thegolfer is properly or improperly coordinating his swing.

The mechanical system when released causes ahammer to strike against thehousing of the indicator causing an audible sound which is heard by thegolfer. The electrical system which is substantially simultaneouslyactivated with the mechanical system causes a light bulb to beilluminated, further indicating to the golfer that at that point in hisswing a predetermined momentum has been created which is sufficient toovercome the retaining force of a spring latch within the indicator.Through proper adjustment of the indicator to correspond to the golfersswing, the golfer can use the indicator as a guide to perfect the timingof his swing, as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

The momentum indicator of the present invention is an improvement overdevices heretofore used, in that it operates upon both the visual andauditory senses of a golfer or an observer, in a substantiallysimultaneous operation to indicate whether the golfer is coordinatinghis swing properly. Also, the present indicator is designed to be simplyand safely mounted upon or removed from the shaft of a club, making itusable on any or all clubs in the set without requiring a permanentattachment to any one of them.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an indicator whichenables a golfer to perfect his. swing through properly coordinating hisbody movements.

A second object of this invention is to provide an indicator whichoperates upon both the visual and auditory States Patent senses. of thegolfer, to indicate at what point in his swing he has created a momentumsuflicient to activate the indicator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an indicatingattachment for a golf club which permits the golfer to use his clubs ina restricted area, where it is impossible to permit the hitting of agolf ball to determine whether or not he is coordinating his swing tocreate a point therein of a predetermined momentum which coincideswiththe position at which the golf head would normally make impact witha golf ball.

A still furtherobject of this device is to train the golfer to keep hishead down and eye on the ball. 7

The indicator of the present invention is made adjustable, so that anygolfer can properly adjust the'device to his own capabilities toindicate a point of predetermined momentum, which coincidessubstantially with a point at which impact with a golf ball would havetaken place.

3,106 ,4 0'3 Patented Got. 8, 1963 ice correspond to a particularnumbered club being used. With the foregoing description and objects inview, the device will now be described in conjunction with the drawing,in which:

FIG. 1 shows the device of the present invention mounted to the shaft ofa golf club;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,showing the members in their operational positions;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing themembers in their non-operational or retracted positions;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device removed from a golf clubshaft, showing the various mounting elements disassembled.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to FIG. 1 thereof, 10indicates a golf-club shaft to which the indicator of the presentinvention 11 is mounted. The indicator is comprised of a housing 12,which contains therein the electrical system comprised of batteries 13and 14, a light bulb 15, and a wire lead 16 which ties in the contactpoint 17 to the light bulb 15. Another contact point 18 cooperates withcontact point 17 to form a switch. The contact point 18 is attached tothe end of a leaf spring latch 19 by means of helical spring 21. Thebatteries 13 and 14 are cradled in a battery-carrying bracket 22, andare held in alignment axially against the light bulb 15 by thecompression spring 23.

The electrical system as shown in FIG. 2 shows the switch contact points17 and 18 in a closed position, completing the electrical circuit whichcauses the light bulb 15 to become illuminated. The same system is shownin FIG. 3 with the spring latch 19 in a retaining position, maintainingthe contact points 17 and 18 in a space apart relationship, in which theelectrical system is open.

The mechanical system also mounted within the housing 12 is comprised ofa cylinder 25 fixedly mounted in the housing with its axis parallel withthat of the housing (i.e., parallel with the axis of the club whenmounted thereon), a hammer 2 6 residing in the cylinder, and acompression spring 24 also nested in the cylinder between the end wallof the cylinder and the base of the hamrner for exerting a force on thehammer. The hammer 26 is provided with a notch, which may be in the formof an annular groove 27 which cooperates with the spring latch 19 forretaining the hammer 26in a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3.

The mechanism for applying the retaining force with which the latch 19is held in the annular groove 27 is supported in a cylinder 29, and iscomprised of a thimble 28, a calibrated internally threaded sleeve 32, amovable spindle 31 and a cylinder bracket 37. As the thimhle 2 8 isscrewed on the sleeve 32 toward the housing 12, the spindie 31 protrudesfarther and farther from the cylinder 29,

thereby exerting more and more pressure upon the inclined spring latch19, causing the said latch 19 to be under greater pressure and exert agreater, retaining force on the hammer 26. As the spindle 31' exertsmore pressure on'the latch 19, a greater centrifugal force is requiredto act upon the hammer 26 to overcome the latch retaining force. Fromthis mode of operation, it is readily apparent that as longer irons andwoods are used, namely, those designed for hitting a golf ball greaterdistances, the ithimble 28 should be positioned closer to the indicatorhousing 12 than when shorter irons of the type designed for shorterdistances are being employed.

The centrifugal force acting upon the hammer 26, is developed duringthecourse of a golfers swing. In swinging a golf club a player initiallybrings the club back on the backswing by the use of his arms and body ina winding manner. When a point is reached in the backswing where theplayers arms have carried the club to a substantially horizontalposition, the golfer begins a a cocking of his wrists in order to rotatethe club along its backward are. When the club has reached the end ofthe 'backswin-g, .the wrists of the golfer are fully cocked.

Then as the club is started downwardly, the body and arms of the playerbegin to unwind while the wrists are retained in their cocked position.As the downward swing progresses and the velocity of the club head isincreased a point is reached where the players hands are approaching thefront of his body. At this point the player begins to uncock his wristsincreasing the velocity of the club head.

The increase in velocity causes an increase in the momentum generatedand also an increased centrifugal force acting upon the hammer 26 asboth of these forces are functions of the velocity of the club. Theincreased centrifugal force upon the hammer Z6 activates the mechanicalsystem by overcoming the retaining force upon the hammer.

The present indicator senses the increase in velocity which in a largepart is due to wrist action and activates the mechanical and electricalsystems. The player is made aware of this point in his swing if he hasproperly coordinated his movements as he has generated a momentumsufficient to overcome the retaining force of the latch 19.

If the player generates this momentum at a point in his swing where hewould normally be making impact with a golf ball, he can conclude thathis timing is proper. If the necessary momentum is generated before orafter he would normaly be making impact with a golf ball, he canconclude that his timing is faulty and take measures to correct hisfaults.

In operation, the indicator of the present invention is cocked as atFIG. 3, with the plunger in a retracted position in the housing 12, sothat the annular groove 27 in the periphery of the hammer 26 cooperateswith the spring latch 19-to hold the hammer 26 in its retracted positionagainst the spring 24. In this retracted position the switch contactpoint 18 is spaced apart from contact point 17, and the electricalsystem is open. As a golfer swings a club with the indicator attachedthereon, as shown in FIG. 1, a momentum is generated during thedown-swing as heretofore described, the retaining force of the springlatch 19 upon the hammer 26 is overcome, the hammer is forced downwardcausing the spring latch 19 to move out of the groove 27, and springlatch 19 rides upon the outer periphery of said hammer, thereby bringingthe contact point 18 into contact with contact point 17, closing theelectrical system and illuminating the light bulb 15. It is preferred toadjust the setting on the indicator, so that it is activated atsubstanially a point in the golfers swing when an imaginary golf ballwould be hit. That is, by adjusting the retaining force on the springlatch 19, it is possible to cause a setting on the indicator which willbe overcome only at a point approximately where impact with a golf ballwould occur. Having adjusted the indicator in this manner, the golfercan perfect the timing of his swing without actually hitting a ball.

As an aid to enable a golfer to determine the initial setting on theindicator, the sleeve 32 has been calibrated :as shown in FIG. 3.However, it must be understood that each golfer will through trial anderror learn where his particular swing causes the indicator to beactivated, and from this he will be able to make the proper settingsthereon. I

It is recognized that the maximum momentum of a golfers swing should bereached at a point therein somewhat after the point of impact with aball occurs. With proper timing and coordination this ideal swing can bedee p and it is a purpose of present indicator to enable 4 a golfer todevelop such a swing though not actually playing the same.

The indicator of the present invention is attached to the shaft of aclub just above the clubhead by the mounting shown in FIGS. 4 and 5which show a bracket 34 that is placed on one side of the shaft of theclub and which is constructed with an inclined trackway to interlockwith the inclined trachway 35 secured to the housing of the indicator.The inclined trackway 35 on the device is inclined upwardly andoutwardly from the shaft of the golf club, so that as the club is swung,the tendency of the mounting is to become more secure upon the shaft, asit wedges downwardly cooperating with the bracket 34. The trackway onthe bracket 34 interlocks the trackway 35 much as the fingers of twohands gripping each other, as can be seen in FIG. 4. The indicator iscushioned against impact and against marring the finish of the shaft ofthe club through the use of sponge rubber padding, shown secured theretoas at 36.

In summary then, the present invention provides an indicator which isremovably mounted upon the shaft of a golf club, preferably Where theshaft meets the head of the club. The indicator is adjustable tocompensate both for the particular golfer using the device, and also forthe club on which it is used. The thimble and sleeve are calibrated foran initial setting to correspond to the club on which the indicator isemployed in a manner that the lower numbered clubs or woods which areused for longer distances require a setting on the device which placesmore pressure upon the spring latch 19, so that it exerts a greaterretaining force on the hammer 26, thereby requiring a greater momentumto be created in the golfers swing to overcome the said retaining force.To cook the indicator after each swing, the golfer merely pushes in onthe plunger 30' thereby forcing the hammer 26 into a retracted positionagainst the compression spring 24, whereat the spring latch 19 becomesseated in the annular groove 27, retaining the hammer 26 in thatposition until the golfer swings the club andcreates the momentumsufiicient to overcome the spring latch retaining force upon the hammer.When this point in his swing is reached the hammer 26 is driven out ofthe cylinder 25 by centrifugal force, against the housing 12 of theindicator, causing a clicking sound. Substantially simultaneouslytherewith contact point 18 secured to the free end of the spring latch19, is forced against contact point 17 by the camming action of thehammer 26, closing the electrical circuit and illuminating the lightbulb 15.

Invention is claimed as follows:

1. A club swing momentum indicator comprising: a housing; means securedto said housing for mounting said indicator upon a club; and amechanical system and an electrical system mounted in said housing forsubstantially simultaneously giving audible and visible signals when apredetermined momentum is reached during the swinging of a club havingsaid indicator attached thereto, said mechanical system beingoperatively associated with said electrical system and including acockable mechanism responsive to the centrifugal force resulting fromthe swinging of the club to trigger the mechanism when the predeterminedmomentum is achieved to generate the audible signal and activate theelectrical system to give the visible signal.

2. A club swing momentum indicator in accordance with claim 1 whereinthe cockable mechanism of the mechanical system is adjustable toestablish the magnitude of centrifugal force at which said mechanism isactivated to close the switch of the electrical system at anypredetermined value within the maximum capability of the mechanism. I

3. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cockablemechanism of the mechanical system comprises a spring-biased hammermounted for movement along its axis parallel with the axis of thehousing and having a notch therein and a spring latch arranged tocooperate with said notch to retain said hammer in normally retractedposition, the arrangement being such that the triggering of saidmechanism allows the hammer to move and strike fixed structure of thehousing to generate the audible signal.

4. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 3 wherein the hammer iscylindrical and the notch is formed by an annular groove encircling saidhammer.

5. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 3 wherein the hammerhas a plunger extending forwardly therefrom through the housing to theexterior thereof whereby the mechanical system may be cocked by forcingsaid plunger inwardly until the spring latch seats in the notch in thehammer.

6. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 3 and including meansfor adjusting the spring pressure with which the spring latch engagesthe notch in the hammer whereby to establish the magnitude of momentumat which the cockable mechanism of the mechanical system is triggered.

7. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 3 and including meansfor adjusting the spring pressure with which the spring latch engagesthe notch in the hammer whereby to establish the magnitude of momentumat which the cockable mechanism of the mechanical system is triggered,said adjusting means including a screw extending outside of the housing,and indicia means indicating the several positions of said adjustingscrew.

8. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 7 wherein the springlatch comprises a leaf spring including a portion inclined to the axisof the hammer and the adjusting screw is substantially parallel with theaxis of the hammer, and the end of said screw bears against saidinclined portion of said leaf spring latch whereby the spring pressureof said latch is responsive to the position of adjustment of saidadjusting screw.

9. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cockablemechanism of the mechanical system comprises a spring-biased hammermounted for movement along its axis parallel with the axis of thehousing and having a notch therein and a spring latch arranged tocooperate with said notch to restrain said hammer in normally retractedposition, and the electrical system includes a switch arranged foroperation by the spring latch, the arrangement being such thattriggering of said mechanism releases said hammer and the resultingaction moves said latch to close said switch and said hammer strikesfixed structure of the housing to generate the audible signal.

10. A momentum indicator in accordance with claim 1 wherein themechanical and electrical systems comprise: an electric lamp andbatteries therefor mounted in the housing with the bulb of said lampexposed at the top of said housing; a hammer having a notch therein anda plunger extending forwardly therefrom mounted in said housing forvertical movement with the plunger extending through said housing at thebottom thereof; a leaf spring latch mounted in said housing forcooperation with the notch in said hammer for restraining said hammer innormally retracted position; and an electric switch connected in circuitwith said batteries and lamp, one contact of said switch being affixedto said spring latch, the arrangement being such that downward movementof said hammer responsive to the centrifugal force resulting from theswinging of the club forces said spring latch out of said notch andthereby moves the contact thereon into engagement with the other contactof said switch to close the lamp circuit and light the lamp.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,676,270 Mattison July 10, 1928 2,158,211 Aitken May 16, 1939 2,218,943Whitney Oct. 22, 1940 2,524,881 Chambers Oct. 10, 1950 2,772,887 BlakeDec. 4, 1956 2,787,470 Barrus et a1. Apr. 2, 1957 2,882,388 Garland Apr.14, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION October8, 1963 Patent No. 3,106,403

Fredrick J, Kirkman or appears in the above numbered pat- It is herebycertified that err 9 said Letters Patent should read as ent requiringcorrection and that th corrected below.

o umn 1, line 54, after "indicatora" insert the following paragraph:

Another object is to provide an indicator which can be readily attachedto and removed from the shaft of a golf club, to enable the golfer touse each club in his set with the same indicating device.

same column l line 6, after "golf" insert club column 4, line 2, for"same" read game Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J BRENNER ERNEST W. S WIDER Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer

1. A CLUB SWING MOMENTUM INDICATOR COMPRISING: A HOUSING; MEANS SECUREDTO SAID HOUSING FOR MOUNTING SAID INDICATOR UPON A CLUB; AND AMECHANICAL SYSTEM AND AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FORSUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY GIVING AUDIBLE AND VISIBLE SIGNALS WHEN APREDETERMINED MOMENTUM IS REACHED DURING THE SWINGING OF A CLUB HAVINGSAID INDICATOR ATTACHED THERETO, SAID MECHANICAL SYSTEM BEINGOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND INCLUDING ACOCKABLE MECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE RESULTING FROMTHE SWINGING OF THE CLUB TO TRIGGER THE MECHANISM WHEN THE PREDETERMINEDMOMENTUM IS ACHIEVED TO GENERATE THE AUDIBLE SIGNAL AND ACTIVATE THEELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO GIVE THE VISIBLE SIGNAL.